Spears and Kyle Named CU Athletes of the Week

Boulder?Cross Country star Jordan Kyle (junior) and Women’s Basketball standout Brittany Spears (sophomore), were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of November 24-30.  This is the fourth career award for Kyle all of which have come this season, while Spears now has two honors on the season and three for her career.

            Kyle, a Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeast/Indiana) native, earned his second cross country All-American honor by placing, 14th overall.  Kyle, who has led the Buffs in all four postseason races, finished the 10-kiliometer course in 29:32.4.  Kyle took 33rd in the 2006 race where the CU men earned their third NCAA title.  He was able to come back and run in front of his family as well as old teammates from Indiana University and improve by 19 spots.  The CU men’s team finished 12th overall.

            Spears, Pasadena, Calif. (Pasadena/Notre Dame Prep [Mass.]) native, scored a career-high and Coors Classic record 36 points against Umass in the Buffs 70-62 loss in the first round of the 22nd Annual Coors Classic.  Spears’ 36 points tied her for the third best total in team history, matching Jasmina Ilic’s total against Nebraska on Jan. 4, 2006, and just two off the school record of 38 held by current Director of Operations Tracy Tripp against Oklahoma State on Feb. 4, 1987 and Susan Horner against Weber State on Mar. 10, 1979.  Spears also set career-highs in field goals made (12) and attempted (25) and free throws made (9) and attempted (11). Her 25 field goal attempts tied a Coors Classic record.  Spears, who was named to the five-player All-Tournament team, had 16 points and nine rebounds in the consolation game loss to Drexel 67-63. She finished the weekend with Classic records for points (36) and field goals (12) in one game (both against UMass) and a 2-game record for field goals attempted (40). 

Others nominated for this week’s award were Dwight Thorne II (Men’s Basketball), Brad Jones (Football), and Callie Webster (Volleyball).

Men’s Basketball:  Dwight Thorne II, Junior, Arlington, Texas.

Thorne II averaged 16 points, four rebounds and two steals a game helping the Colorado men’s basketball team to a 1-1 record during the week.  Thorne II, scored 14 points in CU’s home win over Lafayette, 73-59, and then added a team-high 18 points in the 76-62 loss at Stanford.  In both games, Thorne II was an identical 5-for-7 from the field. Against the Leopards, he also had two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Against the Cardinal, Thorne II tied a career-best six free throws made and six rebounds, and tied a team-high with 18 points.  The CU men’s team is 3-2 on the season and will play four games over the next 20 days leading up to the Christmas break.

Football:  Brad Jones, Senior, East Lansing, Mich.

Jones had 9 tackles (8 solo) in the Buff’s 40-31 loss to Nebraska.  Jones recorded two sacks on Nebraska quarterback Joe Gantz, he also had one quarterback chasedown.  Jones had 3 tackles for losses.  Jones came up big for the Buffs when it came to third down stops, recording 3.

Volleyball:  Callie Webster, Senior, Mercer Island, Wash.

Webster recorded a team-best 33 digs as the Buffs went 1-1 in the final week of Big 12 play. She averaged 5.33 digs per set. Webster recorded 19 in a three-set win over Oklahoma and another 14 in a three-set loss to No. 3 Texas. She was served to 31 times and did not register a single reception error.